Archive for the ‘Business’ Category

Starting a technology related business is often an exhausting but stimulating process. There are several important factors to consider, like where in California your organization should be located, how much cash flow you will need to run, what threats changing technology might represent in the short, medium and long-term, and how much business and California […]

A problem that used to occur for many business minded individuals is how their work would have to stop when the office closed. Without access to their computer, which in days gone by would be stationary and left on their work premises, not much could ultimately be done. This meant that any flexible solutions or […]

If you’re thinking you really aren’t cut out to be a consultant, or if you’re exploring other options, you might find this section helpful. We’ve tried to compare careers in consulting with their counterparts in industry. Although many graduates of top universities and graduate programs choose careers in the more glamorous consulting industry, most find […]

A Day in the Life 5:30 a.m. Monday morning I’m heading to the Pittsburgh International Airport to catch my 7:30 a.m. flight to Chicago Midway. I eat my breakfast in the car, catch up on the news from NPR, and start planning for the week ahead.

What are some of the non-technical skills consultants should have? Time management is key. You have to know how to structure your own workweek and how to structure your tasks. You have to be able to make time for yourself and your work.

Years in consulting: Two Eductaion: BA in information systems, Carnegie Mellon; MISM (Master’s of Information Systems Management), Carnegie Mellon Size of company: 500 consultants Hours per week: 45–55 Annual Salary: $100,000–120,000 What brought you to IT consulting? I had worked in tech companies and had started my own company. I was attracted to consulting because […]

Vice President/Officer/Principal Having mastered the analytics and the peoplemanagement components of the job, consultants at this level are expected to be adept relationshipbuilders within the firm and with clients. At this stage, consultants spend more time overseeing the overall quality of the services provided to the client and less time onsite with the rest of […]

Manager/Engagement Manager/ Project Leader/Associate Principal After a few years, a senior consultant will move up to manager or an equivalent role with a different title. Regardless of the firm-specific nomenclature, the next rung on the ladder usually involves leading a team of consultants and analysts toward project completion, managing day-to-day project activities, providing thought leadership, […]

Technology Architecs/Technology Consultants Technology architects are usually people who have advanced engineering degrees, at least five years of experience in the IT industry or tech consulting, and some experience in business (project management is a common background).

Associate/Consultant/Senior Consultant Within strategy firms, this is the typical port of entry for newly minted MBAs and increasingly for non-MBA graduate students. Senior consultants often perform research and analysis, formulate recommendations, and present findings to the client. Oh, and at many firms they have to implement those great ideas too.

Analyst/Business Analyst/Systems Analyst/Programmer Analyst/Research Associate/Staff Consultant/Associate Consultant This is the position at the bottom of the professional pyramid. The vast bulk of analysts are young, talented, hungry, relatively recent college graduates. Many strategy consulting firms structure this position to last for two to three years, after which the analyst is expected to move on—perhaps to […]

Just as each firm has its favorite buzzwords, it also has unique terminology for its rank and file. Although the titles might vary from firm to firm, the roles can basically be divided as follows: analyst (also called research associate or staff consultant at some firms), consultant (or senior consultant), manager, and partner or VP.